34 Hill Street W1

18 September 1940

By James Ramey

At 12.45am on 18 September 1940 a delayed-action high explosive bomb struck 34 Hill Street W1, a block of eight flats in Mayfair near Berkeley Square and Park Lane. In the same raid Oxford Street also suffered, including major damage to John Lewis and Selfridges department stores. When the bomb hit 34 Hill Street it caused damage to the local gas main. No casualties, injuries or fire were reported.

City of Westminster incident reports noted that the police were initially uncertain as to whether the bomb was a delayed-action type or not. But an incident report received at 5.56am confirmed that the bomb had detonated, smashing a water main as well as causing enough damage to close off Berkley Square. On 1 October the demolition squad cleared the building but found cracks in the foundation of the building. Today 34 Hill Street contains flats valued at c£500,000.

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